Forums

AASC in S. Colorado would like to make a bold transition for our new members with a revamped New Member Welcome Packet. In order to avoid recreating the wheel our staff wanted to know if any other associations had a good product to share. These community forums are for sharing ideas...right? Please...

Leasing team members get a little desperate this time of year. They thrive on leasing, and this time of year leasing is down in most markets. Potential renters are most likely focused on the holidays, family and retail therapy, not on where their Christmas trees will be next year. With slower...

Leasing team members get a little desperate this time of year. They thrive on leasing, and this time of year leasing is down in most markets. Potential renters are most likely focused on the holidays, family and retail therapy, not on where their Christmas trees will be next year. With slower...

Mark Hurley conducted a webinar on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 on Succession Planning for the Family Business. He focused on the elements of a succession plan, when to begin succession planning and how being a family-owned business impacts succession planning.
Here is a link to his webinar: https...

WMFHA is looking to hold our first career fair in conjunction with National Apartment Careers Month (Feb 2015). I am looking to connect with any affiliate who has held a job/career fair before to discuss the following:
Did you charge the management companies? If so - how much?
Where did you...

WMFHA is looking to hold our first career fair in conjunction with National Apartment Careers Month (Feb 2015). I am looking to connect with any affiliate who has held a job/career fair before to discuss the following:
Did you charge the management companies? If so - how much?
Where did you...

As we strive to deliver the type of content that property managers and other onsite staff want for our monthly e-newsletter, Operations Insights, we want to know what type of content you are most interested in receiving.
Are you looking for tips on maintenance? Resident Relations? Human resources...

This group is designed to bring news, tips and trends within the apartment indutry. It will help answer and questions or problems property managers may have. Some information will come as a resident as it will give good insite how issues they see.

We are reaching out to other communities to improve our processes for the administration and record keeping of reserved, designated handicapped parking spaces.
Does anyone have processes in place for record keeping that are working well for you that you would be willing to share? My email is...

We are reaching out to other communities to improve our processes for the administration and record keeping of reserved, designated handicapped parking spaces.
Does anyone have processes in place for record keeping that are working well for you that you would be willing to share? My email is...

I am the property manager of a 50 unit apartment complex in Chestnut Hill, MA (just outside of Boston.) A long-term tenant has been using medical marijuana. She has obtained 'permission' to use this as an alternative therapy for her serious medical condition by a qualified Massachusetts...

I am interested in hearing how other companies handle mileage or gas reimbursement for maintenance on properties without golf carts. Has anyone eliminated them all together and do you pay a stipend, reimbursement or just say it’s part of the job? How did the staff take the change? Thank you for...

Last week I had one of those days. And on that day, in addition to normal work stuff, I received a 1,273 word email from an unhappy resident that I just couldn’t answer that day (let’s just call him Mr. Unhappy). An hour after he sent it, I received one of those “Message from ApartmentRatings”...

I used to be the “anti-dog,” and learned that the reason I didn’t like dogs was not necessarily the dogs themselves: it was often the owners who didn’t train their dogs. I even had a residents’ dog lift its leg and urinate on MY leg inside an apartment office…and the dog owner just said something...

I am interested in hearing how other companies handle mileage or gas reimbursement for maintenance on properties without golf carts. Has anyone eliminated them all together portfolio wide and do you pay a stipend, reimbursement or just say it’s part of the job? How did the staff take the change?...

It’s the Little Things that Count
At our Fun 4th event one couple is a pair of Boomerang Renters, that is, they are Baby Boomers who haven’t rented since before their kids were born. Now kids and parents are on their own, and Mom & Dad are renting their “first” apartment home.
They know what I...

I am researching various Reputation Management Platforms and would love to know about what you use at your company, if any. As far as online reviews go, does your company monitor any ones in particular? (website review, Yelp, Google, Apartment Ratings...) Thanks in advance

With grilling season upon us, now is the time apartment owners and managers should reiterate safe flame and fire measures to their residents who cook outdoors.Capt. Larry Murray, Rainbow City (Ala.) Fire Prevention Officer, observes that a number of apartment community managers in his general area...

Get Out Of Taskville!
Are you a “doer” or a thinker? Or some of both? I used to think and create a lot (or at least I thought I did) but now I get so caught up in the task trap that there is no time to think! And technology, which was supposed to give me more time seems to give me more things...

Get Out Of Taskville!
Are you a “doer” or a thinker? Or some of both? I used to think and create a lot (or at least I thought I did) but now I get so caught up in the task trap that there is no time to think! And technology, which was supposed to give me more time seems to give me more things...

Welcome to the Building Codes Working Group forum! I've set this up as an additional tool for us to discuss code issues. I think this will be exceptionally useful for discussing state and local code matters. I will occasionally post updates for all of you, but more importantly this forum is for you...

We have to dare to be DIFFERENT! I always coach my team to stand out from the competition. We use tons of fun, cute apps in follow up, as posting and marketing. In November, 3 of us from our company spoke at the Multifamily Pro Brainstormers conference and our session was on Fanatical Follow Up...

In honor of peak leasing season, we want to know:
What is the strangest question you've ever been asked while on a leasing tour?
Share your funny stories! Particularly funny questions may be included in a future units Magazine article.

HUD, FHA and Fannie Mae yesterday announced their support to expand Green Preservation Plus. Formerly known as Green Refinance Plus, Green Preservation Plus supports the preservation of quality affordable multifamily housing through reform of energy and water projects that make properties more...

After careful consideration, the Association Management Software (AMS) Working Group is happy to announce that the new association management platform for all National Apartment Association (NAA) affiliates is on its way!
The new platform will be extremely powerful and easy to use. It will also...

This Toolkit distills Enterprise’s experience retrofitting multifamily affordable housing into the critical steps necessary for success. It is a roadmap for multifamily housing owners, investors, and developers which outlines a comprehensive, cost-effective approach to retrofit. To learn more...

Take the Challenge on Multifamily Building Energy Efficiency
In 2013, the President’s Climate Action Plan expanded the Better Building Challenge to cover multifamily buildings. An instrumental component of the program—which supports commercial and industrial building owners in reducing energy use...

Good afternoon,
We are revising our Membership Committee roles/goals, and I was hoping someone might be willing to share theirs. We recently started a Products & Services Council which has taken on a lot of the retention efforts previously conducted by the Membership Committee. So I'm looking...

NAA’s units magazine will report on Curb Appeal trends in the July 2014 issue. We are seeking input from member communities.
Please send me (via email) your best “curb appeal” photo and a description (100 words or less) about why your curb appeal strategy works.
Entries must be submitted by noon ET...

Hello everyone,
I am working on putting together a compensation survey so that we can provide compensation information to our members. I'm looking for compensation information for each of the typical onsite job functions.
Do any of you examples that you wouldn't mind sharing with me?
Thanks...

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, May 14, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time for a fair housing education session focusing on the deaf and hard of hearing.
Background
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has filed eight housing discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban...

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, May 14, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time for a fair housing education session focusing on the deaf and hard of hearing.
Background
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has filed eight housing discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban...

HOT NEWS! Crazy Craigslist Contact Info Change!
Have you noticed the latest change? Your phone number no longer shows in your ad. No really. Your email doesn’t either. Now a prospect has to click on a “show contact info” link in your ad.
And the more effort a prospect has to make, the less...

HOT NEWS! Crazy Craigslist Contact Info Change!
Have you noticed the latest change? Your phone number no longer shows in your ad. No really. Your email doesn’t either. Now a prospect has to click on a “show contact info” link in your ad.
And the more effort a prospect has to make, the less...

Here in Texas, Summer is already upon us, and with an unseasonably cold and difficult Winter, our maintenance teams haven't received much of a break. What are some of the ways that property managers can highlight, reward, and celebrate the critical role our maintenance teams play in our success?

The industry has been known to have a love-hate relationship with online ratings, but according to a units Magazine article in the April issue, Prometheus Real Estate Group uses Yelp as a lead generator.
After hiring a reputation management professional, the Prometheus firm took charge of the...

This month's issue of units Magazine featured an article on Holland Residential's annual revenue-driven competitions for employees. Employees at Holland Residential participate in the "H Games," a competitive and spirited contest in which communities are recognized and rewarded for advancements in...

Calling all NAA and Affiliates AEs and staff who enjoy hiking in the mountains......I LOVE the Colorado Rockies. Let's take advantage of being there for the NAA Conference!
If you are interested in experiencing America the Beautiful by hiking/climbing Pikes Peak (a 14,000' peak - 14,110') the day...

The Blame Game
I confess! When something goes wrong I’m often so busy point my finger that resolving the issue is unnecessarily delayed!
When you point first and ask questions later, at best you put the one who might be able to fix it on the defense. Or you make them feel guilty. Or you create...

I have a question for all service/maintenance associates. What is your experience with R-22 drop-ins?
As we are preparing for our summer/cooling season I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with dropi-ins? I know so of the more common products are; MO-99, 421-A, and NU-22. To be...

To my fellow AEs,
Do any of you currently have a Hall of Fame program whereby you honor individuals who have contributed in meaningful ways on the local, state and national levels? I've been tasked with creating one this year and wanted to see a few models to get the creative thoughts flowing...

I thought I would seek some insight from the service/maintenance folks who have taken and completed CAMT on behalf of the instructors that teach it. I am always open to constructive feedback and looking for ways to be more effective when I teach. Being that I volunteer to instruct many of the...

As NAA celebrates its 75th Anniversary, we want to hear about your own apartment memories--real, fictional or somewhere in between. (If you're wondering how you can have a fictional first apartment memory, just check out NAA Staff Writer Lauren Boston's blog.)
What do you remember most about your...

Customer Service - real Customer Service is KEY!!
I love this quote because it is so true! Jeffrey Gitomer (The Little Black Book of Connections) said:
“People don’t care what you do, unless what you do helps them. Know what problems you can solve, not a bunch of boring stuff about what you do...

Affiliates - Want a chance to win and receive recognition while growing the NAA Family? Learn more about this exciting new opportunity to participate in a fun competition with other NAA affiliates.
Sign up today!

Does anyone have any experience with successful recycling incentives or credits for multifamily communities? We are considering developing an incentive program for DC to help increase tenant participation. I am aware of a pilot program in Tempe, Arizona where the city partnered with a Recyclebank,...

Have e-cigarettes affected your communities or residents in any way? Has anyone asked or complained about them? Have you considered suggesting them as alternative to your smoking residents, so you might save later when “turning” a vacant previously used by a smoker? Has any resident living in a...

Members of the AEC:
A job posting has been posted to the AEC Library for the Southeast Florida Apartment Association on behalf of the Florida Apartment Association for the position of Executive Vice President.
You may view and download the position description, as well as instructions to apply...

Here's a GREAT example of Shameless Selfie Marketing! Thanks, Sarah Spasota, Property Manager at Lakeshore Grande in Fayetteville, NC.
Per Sarah, she created a “selfie” follow up. "I set up an appointment with them and made sure it was confirmed with my face!" And a confirmed appointment time!...

Can you say it in 3 words or fewer?
What do you do for a living? Can you put it in a short sentence or phrase? Is your purpose, your job, your goal so clear to you that you can distill it into a few words, a phrase, one sentence?
Like…Mary Rents!
A few years ago there was a furor to create...

The Olympics are just around the corner and like most people, my favorite part is always the inspiring stories. The Olympics are the epitome of what you can accomplish through hard work, passion and dedication and I believe we can all find a few great examples for our own professional lives.
As...

AEs,
Your NAA affiliated association can win $2,500 by bringing more advocates to the 2014 NAA Capitol Conference!
Two winners will be announced during the Capitol Conference -- one for Mid-Atlantic affiliated associations* and the other for those in the remainder of the United States. The...

Has anyone used ZipRecruiter at your company? From what I read it seems too good to be true. One of the questions I have is about the posting tool that allows your one job opening to post on over 50 job boards. It says there is an additional fee for CareerBuilder and Monster. Howver, the other...

Has anyone else had issues with blocked Craigslist posts this morning from RentSentinel? Some of our sites have reported that ads are being blocked due to "APTJET," which is the drag and drop posting platform used by RentSentinel. I have an email into RentSentinel support, but, I wanted to see if...

I walked vacants with a Manager the other week, and it was amazing the difference in 2 apartment homes we viewed. One was OK or perhaps a smidge below OK, and the other just “FELT” so much better! The better one didn’t have any special renovations or upgrades. In fact, it had the same 80s vintage...

For me, it’s every time a resident says, “I’m going to call my lawyer!” You know, they aren’t getting their way and you’re holding firmly but respectfully to policy, so their only possible response is to “lawyer up!” Cha Ching! Give me another nickel!
Some tips when residents pull out the “...

Tell us about your publications with this brief survey. We estimate this survey will take three minutes or less - just about the time amount of time it takes you to microwave your lunch!
Complete the survey by Friday, Jan. 3 and you will be eligible to receive one of three gift cards. Thank you in...

I'm a leasing specialist at an apartment complex near a university, and we attract a largely 21-32 crowd. Lately I've noticed that the number of prospective residents asking to be contacted by text has grown. Do any of you use texts to market? If so, how is this working for you?

Tired of Selfies? Don’t be! It is still a growing trend that won’t last forever. So use it to your marketing advantage!
How can you use Selfie marketing?
· Have a cool display in your Clubhouse and invite people to enter a Selfie Contest where they upload their selfie onto your social...

I am newer to the affordable housing sector of our industry and I would like to know what kinds of training programs has your management company found to be effective for your Onesite teams? Do you create your own training or do you contract with an e-learning program for this?

Is Whisper.sh the next big thing in social media? After launching about 18 months ago, the site now boasts 3 billion page views per month!
The site prompts users to post "secrets" anonymously, using pictures and bold quoted text similar in style to an internet meme. The "secrets" are not the...

I learned today that I was infringing on someone’s civil rights by not allowing them to get a teacup pig. Since when are farm animals a protected group?
We took over an apartment community that was in bankruptcy and had to restrict the residents from having goats. Not to worry…They didn’t...

I LOVE packages! I get excited when UPS arrives at our office, and will usually walk out to see who the package is for! It’s one more reason I love a person in uniform!
Typically the package turns out to be toner or some other office supply...but you never know!
Our residents are just that way...

I always love Apple commercials. Their new ad "Misunderstood" seems to speak to our digital culture and has prompted emotional responses from those who love it and those who hate it. Perhaps the emotion comes from a realistic portrayal of the isolated feeling we get when we see someone more...

We have a member that is really pushing the idea of the association being the "pre-screeners" of employees for the membership - leasing, maintenance, managers, etc. the idea is that the association would conduct the initial interview, run the background checks (criminal/credit) and create a...

Kelly came into my office the other day, after 3 different residents from 3 different properties in 3 different cities with 3 different issues yelled at her over the phone. And it’s not even lunch time! And it’s not a full moon! The ISSUES were typical industry issues: I CAN’T PAY MY RENT AND...

I have done a fair amount of social media marketing for businesses, so I would like to start sharing how social media marketing can be effective for property management. I will include tips for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, LinkeIn, YouTube, and basic website/blogging.
Please...

Want to give your residents or employees something cool as a gift, but your budget doesn't allow for an iPad or anything like that? How about these Halo Pocket Power Chargers that you can buy at Staples for $20? They're very cute and stylish, and they work for virtually any cell phone and any other...

Have you ever wished there was one place where you could find free vector images for your favorite icons (like social icons, phone, email, etc.)? I just discovered this awesome website today and thought I would share: http://www.flaticon.com/
Enjoy!

NAA wants to communicate with you better!
Tell us about your publications with this brief survey. We estimate this survey will take three minutes or less--just about the same amount of time it takes you to microwave your lunch!
Complete the survey by Friday, Dec. 20 and you will be eligible to...

I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Pre-AIM seminar yesterday with Branding Guru, Douglas Van Praet. Van Praet discussed the unique opportunity for property managers to utilize edgier (sexier) messages in their advertising. He used the examples of Lime Apartments, who has used the...

How does an owner calculate the value of an amenity. How do we know whether to spend on a dog park, pool, or WiFi?
It's easy to figure what a % increase in occupancy is or the ability to raise rental rates. The hard part is being able to attribute the increase to a particular amenity. Is it...

On November 20, 2013, local representatives of Apartment Finder, ForRent Media Solutions and Central Wholesalers in conjunction with the Central Virginia Apartment Association (CVAA) and Multifamily Marketing Megaphone sponsored a local brainstorming event for apartment professionals in the...

It’s that time again! COLD WEATHER! It came early for us Southerners, and is bringing with it slick common areas, potential slip and fall hazards, possibility of frozen pipes and then floods! OH MY! This is an instance that Benjamin Franklin is correct: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound...

OH MY! Craigslist no longer supports VFlyer, Smore or Postlets! RATS! But you are still in good shape!
In a no-flyer world, photos and creative content will be what differentiates your post on Craigslist! Here are some tips:
· Do short, creative headlines!
· Write good content...

Don’t you hate the build-up? It’s like the crazy music before the shower scene in Psycho. You KNOW something bad is about to happen, and you cringe in anticipation of the bad news that’s sure to follow. Other killer phrases are when someone prefaces their discussion with “I hate to say it, but...

It has been years since I’ve leased an apartment; but, when my husband took a job in Washington, D.C., we once again entered the rental market. As someone who has been engaged with apartment marketing for the last ten years, I was excited by the opportunity to truly participate in the entire...

Three Essential Tips for Internet Leasing:
1. 1. Timing is Everything
Leasing professionals should respond to e-leads immediately, just like answering the phone! The online customer experience typically lasts for 15 minutes. The goal is to start the email conversation while they are...

Hello everyone,
We had a situation arise this year that has led us to consider revoking the membership of one of our vendor members. We have never had this issue before so I wanted to get feedback from other associations on how you handle situations like this.
Here is brief recap of the...

Some days you may wish it was! According to a recent Epsilon study, rates that marketing emails were opened last year were 8.3% less than the prior year. That doesn’t necessarily signal death for those of us who use email in our marketing. Consider that 96.1% of marketing emails still don’t “...

Don’t give rent concessions if you want your residents to renew! If a resident came in on the newest and hottest deal, then at renewal time they will leave your property for the same reason. Further, the renewal increase that you offer them at the end of their lease term will be much higher...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published a Contingency Plan for Possible Lapse in Appropriations detailing how it will manage through the shutdown. According to the plan:
• Funding is uncertain for multifamily housing programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher...

Another thought on Concessions:
Concessions devalue the property. Consumers are looking for value and security for their families. When you give rent away for free, it raises questions in their minds. So sell your product! Win prospects over with your wit and charming smile. Help them to see...

You've decided you'd like to commercialize your website to make some extra money but aren't sure exactly how to go about it. The most basic option to make money from your website is using display advertisements. There are numerous types of display advertisements and even more advertisers that...

"It's that time of year" used to only be used in July and August when student housing properties were out in full force trying to lease up remaining beds and going through turnover. We all looked forward to that break in the fall when we could catch our breath before leasing geared up in the...

NAAEI offers a convenient way to get your Continuing Education Credits through the Webinar Wednesday program. You can take a class online, which means that you don’t have to travel, and easily fit it into your day. Each webinar is an hour long.
The series covers a wide variety of topics from...

Concessions are painful! I have 3 parts to share.
First -
Following the crowd isn’t always looking out for the owner’s best interests. Many apartment professionals view concessions as an easy way to increase occupancy. But at what price are we willing to pay? One month, two months, a 52...

For those of us leasing in a highly competitive market, Ive found that a simple $1.50 investment can really make the difference. Bath & Body Works sells travel size hand sanitizers that come in a huge variety of scents. They really put alot of thought into their marketing as each scent has an...

A simple phrase used consistently by all employees can change the way your company is viewed from a consumers prospective. It’s cheap, easy, and can really set the bar for the next level in your marketing campaign. Let me give you an example of what I mean. When you go to Chik-Fil-A, you place...

5 ways to ensure employee satisfaction:
Smile! Managers must realize that your mood dictates the office atmosphere.
Food. Never underestimate the power of a surprise breakfast, lunch or Starbucks. It’s truly the way to your staff’s hearts.
Gratitude. Just thanking your staff goes further than...

Hello everyone,
NAA received a question recently about elevator best practices. Specifically, the following questions concerning elevators:
How do you handle move-in/move-out conflicts?
How do you handle ADA issues when elevators are out in tower buildings?
If you have any best practices or...

It’s a tough economy, ok, we get it! So what does that mean for us in the apartment industry? It is essential for us to work even harder for each lease! Your turns need to be tighter, your property immaculate and your leasing staff focused! We must set standards higher. The leasing process...

So I was headed to the airport leaving the fabby folks in Dallas, and I saw a sign on an apartment community that floored me. It said something like, "Our Criminal Background Checks Equal Safer Living For You." What do folks think of this as a marketing concept?
Just curious about what the...

Customer Service or Lack Thereof These Days!
Who’s the boss these days? Sam Walton once said, "There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else." Alright, so it’s a tough economy, but that does...

Recently our company rolled out a Large Social Media Marketing Plan. Do you think that Social Media is a tool that is helpful in the apartment leasing industry? or do you feel that the only people that will follow your social media page would be people looking to complain or slander?

Ever played matchmaker to incoming college students? It’s HARD! And believe it or not, some of the toughest matches are friends who grew up together and then decide to live together. It doesn’t always work.
I asked a student housing provider about the perils of the “roommate matching”...

Hello,
I wanted to let the Green Cmmunity know that I shared the AOBA Green Case Study template (with an example included) to the Green COmmunity Library.
Here's a quick link to it. www.naahq.org/connect/document/sample-green-case-study-template

Good Morning-
In Connecticut, we give out our local version of the PARAGON Awards every year called the Nutmeg Awards. We have completely redesigned the awards this year including adding new categories and submission criteria. In the past, we have used a three judge panel made up of real...

Dear Affiliates:
My name is Tina Bocheff, and I am the Director of Strategic Partnerships at NAA affiliate, East Bay Rental Housing Association, in Oakland, CA. One of my areas of responsibility is overseeing our annual trade expo (as well as vendor member recruitment/development, advertising...

In the Marketing world, you have to stay on top of the latest and greatest products and services. Being creative can be tricky when you feel as though every community is doing to same thing producing the same results. The important tip is to find inspiration outside of our industry and apply it...

Does your company have any polcies designed to help employees "unplug" after work and maintain a healthy work/life balance? Do you have any personal rules to help achieve this, like not checking email from your personal phone, or not using the Internet after a certain time of night?
The October...

The upcoming October issue of units Magazine will feature numerous stories on maintenance, including an entire feature on Do-It-Yourself maintenance.
Before that issue hits your mailbox, we're looking for stories about your experience with Do-It-Yourself maintenance. Did you repair a garbage...

Hello NAA Afilliates
I am glad to see the new Affiliate Staff Forum getting launched. Looking forward to sharing ideas and opportunities.
My 25- year career has been all focused on membership assocoations working at five trade associations and one professional society. All my work...

Online reviews can be a scary subject, but they are becoming a more important part of your web presence. Reviews can be the deciding factor for a prospect turning into a lead or moving on to another community. It’s very difficult to please everyone 100% of the time, so you should expect to...

I want to thank NAA for quickly responding to my request and starting this forum! I greatly appreciate NAA acknowledging the need for a place where affiliates can collaborate, and share best practices among one another. I look forward to connecting with everyone!
Rachel Sosenko
Membership...

We have a new membership committee and are looking for some unique ideas for recruiting new members. We'd love to hear of anything exciting going on out there that is bringing in a new interest in membershiip.

Who’s the boss these days? Sam Walton once said, "There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else."
Alright, so it’s a tough economy, but that does not mean we can throw our hands up and quit! ...

We’ve all heard about the importance of having a website optimized for mobile devices, but almost as important is the way these mobile sites are implemented. Google constantly changes its search algorithm to improve the experience of searchers, and it is now penalizing websites that make browsing...

We've just updated our policy manual and included a new social media policy which I'm sharing below. Do you have a similar policy at your affiliate? After looking at our policy below do you see anything we're missing? Would love some feedback:
IntroductionPTAA understands the importance of...

Join the NAA Lease Program and Blue Moon Software for a free Webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to see how the most widely-used residential lease forms in the country can work for you. The Webinar will include a demonstration, step-by-step instructions and information on integrating it with your property...

As someone who works in the home office of an apartment management company but is also a resident, I may offer a different perspective than a lot of the other Champions in this forum. One thing I don’t have at my apartment is a sense of community or neighborhood. I might nod to people as they pass...

How much does it cost to make the leasing office phone ring? Surprisingly, $30-$40 per call! Now, the industry standard for average call length is 2 to 3 minutes, so those are an expensive few minutes. Leasing professionals must build a relationship with prospects, figure out how to meet their...

Are you utilizing all of your online resources for review management? Sure, there are the main review sites like Google and Apartment Ratings. But are you on Yelp and ILS’s like Apartments.com checking the reviews there? How are you soliciting your customers to leave a review online? Maybe you...

We recently had this issue come up for discussion in our company and I was wondering if anyone would like to share their thoughts, ideas and policies when it comes to tattoos and piercings.Since tattoos and piercings are becoming more prevalent and more accepted in society what role does that play...

How are owners/managers being affected by bed bug laws? For example, what impact, if any, has bed bug laws/regulation had on the operations of owners/managers? Are members reporting increased costs? Impacting ability to rent unit/marktability of building? Thank you.
Nicola Y. Whiteman, Esq.Vice...

If you’ve had a 3-year old you probably wondered at times if WHY was the only word in his or her vocabulary. At first it was cute, and then it was not as cute, and then it was not cute at all. In the beginning you probably gave detailed answers, but typically it only generated another WHY. So...

Getting found during search is important, but if you have a low quality website you could be turning off prospective customers. Providing users with a good experience will help your search engine optimization efforts, as search engines try to serve user-friendly results with relevant information....

With so many different social platforms now available, it's hard to find a place for all of the links on your website.
Social toolbars can help! Not only do they allow you to manage, edit and update your social accounts as you add additional channels, social toolbars organize your social links...

When I first started working in marketing for the multifamily housing industry, my friends and colleagues would often remark on their longing to work in a creative department. For them, and for many, marketing is a career rich in artistic innovation, creativity and passion-driven decisions. For...

Hello! We are facing legislation in Virginia seeking to include "source of income" as a protected class under the Virginia Fair Housing law. I'd passed, this would mean that all properties in the state would have to accept Section 8 vouchers. I would like to hear if anyone else is seeing similar...

New CAMT Candidates: Thank you for enrolling in CAMT and welcome to the NAA Connect CAMT Forum!
Please find study materials and additional helpful resources in the Candidate Resources page. Feel free to post questions about the course or post helpful information for other CAMT candidates.
Newest...

New NALP Candidates: Thank you for enrolling in NALP and welcome to the NAA Connect NALP Forum!
Please find study materials and additional helpful resources in the Candidate Resources page. Feel free to post questions about the course or post helpful information for other NALP candidates.
Most...

New CAS Candidate: Thank you for enrolling in CAS and welcome to the NAA Connect CAS Forum!
Please find study materials and additional helpful resources in the Candidate Resources page. Feel free to post questions about the course or post helpful information for other CAS candidates.
The newest...

New CAM Candidates: Thank you for enrolling in CAM and welcome to the NAA Connect CAM Forum!
Please find study materials and additional helpful resources in the Candidate Resources page. Feel free to post questions about the course or post helpful information for other CAM candidates.
Kimberley...

It seems odd that the strongest ideas would come at the hand of dissent and debate; but, research published in the European Journal of Social Psychology regarding a 2004 study in creativity indicate that the right kind of criticism can produce greater creativity. In the study, researchers divided...

Have you ever taken the opportunity to review advertising content in your market? Whether I'm looking at Craigslist, purusing short descriptions on any ILS sites or looking through my competitor's photos and videos, I am struck by a major shortcoming in our advertising...they all sound the same...

We often get questions about prorating membership dues for both property members and vendor members. Our dues year is January 1 to December 31. Would anyone be willing to share with me how you handle the prorating of dues during a calendar year? Thank you.
Regards,
Krystn Ledoux
Executive...

We are looking to grow and expand our IRO program locally and would love to hear how other affiliates have built their IRO membership and what kind of programming they provide for their IRO members.
Any tips and advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Want Them To Call You Back? Do This.
There are moments in our lives that, because of some emotional connection, we remember more than others. For most of us these include our wedding day(s), graduation, the birth a child, or some other truly meaningful event.
For me, mixed in with all of...

Hi everyone,
I'm going to use this discussion thread as a running list of post ideas for you. If you "follow" this message, it's updates will appear on your Connect landing page. If you check the "subscribe" box you will receive email notifications when additional comments and ideas are made to...

Hi everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday last week! All current Champions have now received training, and many of you have begun posting already! A giant thank you to everyone who's posted already!
We'll be sharing and promoting your posts on our end, but please do feel free to do the...

One of the things that I enjoy most about NAA sponsored conferences is the great group of speakers from outside of the apartment industry. From the auto industry to the luxury fashion retail industry to the airline industry, I am always inspired by the intersections between outside industry...

For all those whose socks have been eaten in a laundry room, the real question is, if you find it are you willing to reach back there and pick it up?
Laundry rooms are designed to be an amenity, and the few I’ve visited recently felt anything but…Which is probably why “washer and dryer connections...

Lifestyle photos give your print and digital publications a personal touch; but, if you've ever tried finding the perfect stock photo to make your piece come alive, you're probably familiar with the difficulty of locating just the right photo at the right price. At Landmark Property Services, Inc...

In March 2013, after two quarters of earnings disappointments, McDonald’s changed its focus from new menu items to service with a smile (Jargon, Julie. “McDonald’s Tackles Repair of ‘Broken’ Service. Wall Street Journal. 10 April 2013. Web. 2 July 2013). Holding a webcast, McDonald’s Corp....

In the “Winner Take All” sales model, compensation is matched to performance through a quantitative approach to productivity. This is not a new innovation in sales or the apartment leasing industry. Many companies offer bonuses based on successful conversions. Key to the “Winner Take All” model...

I've posted three documents today that may be of assistance to you as you get started.
A Guide to the Forum WYSIWYG
Connect Champion Training Presentation
Website Promotional Materials
I will also be share tips with you as I find them on posting engaging content. Please feel free to do the same...

Welcome to all of NAA's Connect Champions!
I'm looking forward to training and working with all of you as we work together to grow the new home for collaborations and discussions and grow the area within the NAA Community.
We'll be using this community as a place to work together, practice using...

Please note corrected time and location.
The agenda and past minutes for the AEC meeting are now available on the AEC community. The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, from 11 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. om room 24 BC of the San Diego Convention Center. Hope to see you there!

The agenda and past minutes for the IROC meeting are now available on the IROC Community
The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, from 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. om room 23 BC of the San Diego Convention Center.
Hope to see you there!

The agenda and past minutes for the AEC meeting are now available on the AEC community.
The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, from 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. om room 23 BC of the San Diego Convention Center.
Hope to see you there!

We are looking to add a category to our awards program - Rookie of the Year. If you have this category could you share:
What is the criteria for the Rookie of the Year?
What percentage or how many of their nomionations would qualify for Rookie of the Year?
Thanks & See everyone next week...

Dear IRO Members:
I am the property manager of a 50 unit apartment complex in Chestnut Hill, MA (just outside Boston) and we are thinking of installing a generator for our facility. Our primary goal is to keep the heat on should we lose power during cold weather.
My question for you is: what...

Welcome to the NAA Staff Community!
This is a private group that is the new "Staff section" of the website.
A few things you can find here include:
Documents for staff including accounting forms, training forms, prohect request forms and human resources forms. These are easy to access from home,...

How do the IROs out there handle resident push-back to ancillary income? Is it ever a problem for prospective residents?
Or do you find that residents typically don't have a problem with items such as move-in fees?

Does anyone have what they would call a "Preventative Maintenance" program at their property? If so, what are the details? Do you reward residents for placing maintenance requests? Do you do regular apartment inspections?
What do you do to prevent problems coming up through regular maintenance or...

The busiest leasing season of the year is right around the corner. So what is your community doing to get ready?
We want to share! Do you have a waitlist set up? Are you putting extra dollars into your landscaping or marketing budgets? Share with the NAA Community how you're preapring to rock this...